An air bike is similar to a traditional spin bike but with the addition of moveable handles that when used, power a large fan at the front of the bike. Air bikes are usually built with steel, making them rather heavy (>100lbs).
However, their main use for high intensity interval training makes the extra weight worthwhile because it makes the machine more stable. The handles and pedals can be used together or separately to power the fan. This means that you can choose to target your upper body muscles, lower body muscles, or both at the same time.
Why the Air Bike is the Single Best Conditioning Tool
There are many reasons why the Air Bike is the single best conditioning tool. There are few machines in a CrossFit box. Rowing machines are often a staple, but more and more gyms are outfitting their facilities with Air Bikes.
These suckers were initially developed for seniors with limited mobility. But don't let that fool you, they are nothing if not a brutal form of conditioning. So much so that they've earned the nickname "Satan's Tricycle," and for good reason.
We Need Cardio to be at Optimum Health
It’s not complicated; it doesn’t matter who you are, you have to do some form of cardio. That ticker isn't going to maintain itself, and cardio speeds up your recovery. As winter creeps in, you’re going to be inside more than you want to be, and Air Bikes are a fantastic ‘default ’ exercise even for the most neglectful of cardio pursuers.
The Fan Bike is a fantastic way to smuggle cardio into your routine. Even famous powerlifting coach and king of the meatheads, Jim Wendler, is known to profess his love of the Air Bike. If, arguably, rowing is the King of total body conditioning; Fan Bikes are the prince.
An Air Bike provides you a great way to modify your total body conditioning if you have an injury that prevents you from rowing, or, if you are sick of, or don't like rowing. The Air Bike has long been an excellent piece for rehab, as it provides a safe movement with no impact while allowing you to continue to do cardio, and provides blood flow throughout the body to increase the healing of your damaged areas.
5 Air Bike Benefits
1. Ideal for Tabata and Interval Training
Where the Air Bike truly shines as the de facto metabolic conditioning tool. Tabata, intervals, and the air bike are a match made in heaven. Changing up your routine can help push through those plateaus. Even popping on Netflix and casually cranking out a few miles is an excellent way to sneak in your cardio.
2. Low Impact
Originally built for seniors, the air bike has quickly become a staple for anyone needing a low impact type of cardio training. Whether you’re carrying extra bodyweight, nursing an injury or just wanting to avoid some unneeded joint stress, the fan bike is your best friend. Compared to jogging, running stairs or jumping rope, the air bike has minimal impact on your ankles, knees or hips. On top of that, the adjustability of their seat position allows for a workout that is truly personalized to your body shape and size.
3. Great for Warm-Up or Cool-Down
Although air bikes are often used for high intensity interval training (HIIT), that’s not their only use. Just like a regular bike, they can be used at a low or moderate speed and everything in between. The air bike’s range in speed is especially useful for when you want a light cardio warm-up to get your blood flowing prior to an all-out, heart pumping workout. Or, use it without the fan cover for a wonderful cool-down as the air from the fan helps cool you off.
4. Improve Your Mindset
Just as important, using an Air Bike can also enhance your mindset. If you have ever used an Air Bike at high intensity, you know it isn’t easy. When you get on it at a high intensity, it will indeed test your mental fortitude as your arms and legs swell with lactic acid, and scream for relief. It feels as though you are biking through fire.
5. Active Recovery
Despite the name, your rest days truly should not involve purely relaxing, if you are trying to minimize your recovery time. Studies have shown time and time again that some light activity on your rest days, or even the day after a game, can lessen recovery time by providing mobilization and blood flow to flush out unwanted waste products, like lactic acid, lingering in your muscles. The Air Bike does just that, moving your entire body together, and increasing blood flow to all parts.
Air Bike Benefits Conclusion
The bottom line is that an Air Bike is a must have tool in your
home gym. It's perfect for recovery, long cardio stretches, and intervals. Plus it'll give your grandmother more reason to come over and visit. Interested in getting one for your gym? The
Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike is our highly reviewed cardio bike, check the details below!
